Thursday, September 3, 2009

Silk Ribbon Embroidery Tutorial - Iris

As you would no doubt see in the bulb catalogues, Irises are available in so many varietiesthese days. The following is my version of a Bearded Iris.

This is being stitched with pieces of my own hand dyed 7 mm Ribbon.

Step 1: Two Ribbon Stitches downwards, slightly crossing.

Step 2: Two Ribbon Stitches coming from the Centre,
with a slight curve.

Step 3: With the option of a second coloured ribbon,
three ribbon stitches, facing up.

Step 4: With the same ribbon as Step 1 - place 1
loose ribbon stitch, 3/4 of the way up. Press down
with your fingers on the already formed petals,
to stop them pulling as you take the needle and
ribbon through. One French Knot with 4 mm.
Yellow Ribbon. ( Be careful when placing this Knot
that it does not go through the other ribbon stitches. )

Step 5: 7 mm. green ribbon coming from under
the flower, give it a tight twist and place the needle
through the base into the material, as in a ribbon
stitch. You may wish to take some matching thread
through in places to hold it flat on the fabric.
Make a folded Ribbon Stitch for one leaf.
This is done by stitching down with the matching
thread, and then folding over and completing as normal.

Step 6: Then for variety add some straight leaves, pulling the
ribbon away to create a point. Many more leaves can
be added, than I have done. This would also be the case if
you were stitching a group of Irises.

Next blog, we shall delve into more delicate irises in 4 mm. ribbon.

Hint: Should you have a Bulb Catalogue on hand they are excellent to give detail
and colour suggestions of the flowers.